The new chief executive of Anglo American was accused of “acquiescing” in the concealment of financial problems that led to the collapse of one of Australia’s largest goldmining companies.

In one of his earliest senior executive positions, between 2000 and 2003, Mark Cutifani was managing director of Sons of Gwalia, a Perth-based miner that was the world’s biggest supplier of tantalum, a rare metal used in household electronics.

Mr Cutifani, who has since described Sons of Gwalia as a “learning experience”, was brought in to improve the fortunes of the business. But, only 18 months after his departure, Sons of